Introduction - how to use this page

You can pray using your own words or using no words at all - but there are a number of prayers which
have been written or composed by others which you may find helpful. There is a small selection on this page. A few of these it is worthwhile learning by heart, and then you can easily use them in your personal prayers
or join in with them when they are used in services. Others you may like to copy out or print to use on your own.

Many of these prayers were written for use in public worship of some kind. They can all be found in 'Common Worship', the
series of service books from which the services at Immanuel and St Andrew are taken. Some of the prayers have page references - these refer to the main 'Sunday' volume of 'Common Worship'. You may prefer to
look them up and use the book if you have a copy.

All of these prayers - and most prayers said in church services - end with the word 'Amen'. 'Amen' is a Hebrew word which
means 'Truly' or 'So be it', and it is a way of affirming what has just been said in the prayer. It was used in this way by the Jews of Jesus' day in their worship and was adopted by the early church.
If the prayer is said by one person in a service, the congregation usually join in the 'Amen' to indicate that they agree with what has been said and
want to make the prayer theirs - not just that of the person leading. There is no need to use 'Amen' when you pray privately, but you can if you wish.

The Lord's Prayer ('Our Father')

The Lord's Prayer ('Our Father'), which Jesus himself taught, is is the most important of all the prayers that have been
written for us to use, and it is certainly a
good idea to learn it by heart. Unfortunately, there is more than one version commonly in use, although they are all based on Jesus' teaching in Matthew chapter 6 verses 9-13.

The one we normally use in services at Immanuel and St Andrew is the
modern language version below, and this is probably the best one to learn by heart - if you haven't already learnt one of the others!

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

The only other version you are likely to meet at Immanuel and St Andrew is the 'traditional language' version, with, for example,
'thy' and 'thine' in place of 'your' and 'yours'.
It is used in many churches instead of the modern version above. It may be used at Immanuel and St Andrew in services where there are likely to be several visitors, such as weddings
and funerals, as it will probably be the version they will know by heart. You may know this version better, or prefer to learn it instead of the one above, although you'll then need to
follow the service book more closely at Immanuel and St Andrew!

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The 'Grace'

The 'Grace' is based on St Paul's greeting which he uses at the end of the second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians chapter 13 v 13).

It is often used to conclude a service or other time of worship and all present are usually invited to join in and say it
together - so, again, it is useful to learn it by heart. Unlike a blessing, which church
rules say may only be given by a priest, the 'Grace' may be said in public worship by anyone, so it is often used when no priest is present.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

Prayers of praise, adoration and confession.

It is often fairly easy to say prayers that ask God for things, or thank God for things, whether for ourselves or others. It is not always so easy to
put praise, adoration and confession into words. You can say 'God, I love you', or 'God, you're wonderful', or 'God, I'm sorry', as on the
Prayer - What?, Why? and How?
page, but many people - perhaps including you - prefer something more traditional or formal when talking to God. So you may find the prayers below will help.

You may also find some of the Psalms in the Bible helpful. Try Psalms 100 and 150 for praise and Psalm 51
for confession - but there are many more.

A prayer of adoration and praise.

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as the Lord;
all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Amen.

You may find it helpful to 'personalise' this prayer if you are using it alone by saying 'I', 'my' and 'me' in place of 'we', 'our' and 'us'
(and omitting the words 'and one another').

Most merciful God,
we confess to you,
before the whole company of heaven and one another,
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed
and in what we have failed to do.
Forgive us our sins,
heal us by your Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ.
Amen.

Eternal God and Father,
you create and redeem us by the power of your love:
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves in love and service
to one another and to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A prayer you may you may find helpful at a time of bereavement, or when facing death.

Support us, O Lord,
all the day long of this troublous life,
until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,
the busy world is hushed,
the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then, Lord, in your mercy grant us a safe lodging,
a holy rest, and peace at the last;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Some 'famous' prayers

Some prayers have become well-known and widely valued, and a small selection is given here.

A Franciscan prayer, sometimes attributed to St Francis.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.
Amen.

A prayer based on words of Richard of Chichester.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you
for all the benefits you have won for us,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for us.
Most merciful redeemer,
friend and brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to seek for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.
Amen.

The 'Prayer Book' version of the Lord's Prayer

If you visit a church which uses the 'Prayer Book' (The Book of Common Prayer) you will meet this version,
which is slightly different from the 'traditional language' version above. The Book of Common Prayer is the original
service book of the Church of England. The present version dates from 1662 - over 350 years ago -
but it is still in use in many churches, where its fine, ancient language is considered to enhance the quality of the worship.

Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
[For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.]
Amen.

page 64.

(The final section, starting 'For thine is the kingdom...' is sometimes omitted in 'Prayer Book' services.)